In a game that mixed a wild scramble of missed opportunities and clutch plays, the Montana Grizzlies capitalized on the “clutch” plays in the final 30 seconds of play to withstand a furious rally by the Oral Roberts University Eagles for a 69-64 win in the consolation bracket of the Legends Basketball Classic hosted at Pepperdine University Monday.
With the win, Montana advances to Tuesday’s title game of the Legends consolation bracket against the winner of the other semifinal game between the Pepperdine Waves and UC Santa Barbara.
Montana junior forward Bobby Moorehead/ by Jason Bacaj
The Grizzlies appeared on the verge of a breakout win after layups by true freshmen Karl Nicholas and Timmy Falls, and two free throws by junior Bobby Moorehead, gave Montana a 14-point, 55-41 lead with 8:37 remaining.
It was a lead built by Montana’s in-your-face man-to-man defense over the course of the game. The Grizzlies forced 16 ORU turnovers – eight in each half – on various defensive traps and gap-filling steals, and crafted a 31-24 halftime lead. The Grizzlies looked to be in full control and on the verge of a win going away.
Until ORU guard Austin Ruder got hot.
After going 0-for-3 from the field with only two free throws in the first half, Ruder rallied his team on 5-of-7 second half treys for 19 points, and the Golden Eagles clawed within three at 65-62 with Ruder’s last trey at the 29 second mark of the game.
During ORU’s run, the Grizzlies suffered through two dry spells where open shots and wild scrambles became barely missed opportunities to put the game away. Among the mishaps were a missed dunk by Nicholas that turned into a two-point technical freebie for ORU, and two wild scrambles after Montana steals and misses. Both ended up as ORU layups.
Ahead 60-49 with just under five minutes remaining, Montana faltered as ORU shooters nailed three treys and two dunks to pull within one possession at 65-62.
But just as they appeared on the brink of losing control, Montana seemed stabilized by Moorehead, who smoothly nailed his first 3-point dagger of the night, after missing five, from the left wing off of a pass from point guard Ahmaad Rorie.
Montana senior forward Fabijan Krslovic against Oral Roberts/ by Glenn Junkert, for Skyline Sports
Rorie hit his own critical jumper in those final seconds, followed by two made free throws when a Montana inbounds pass spun out of control until Rorie pounced on it and was fouled with 22 seconds remaining. Montana post Fabijan Krslovic then put the game away with two free throws at the 11 second mark.
But the game leading up to those hectic final minutes, saw a Montana team ready to put an embossed signature on an aggressive combo defense by forcing those 18 ORU turnovers. Montana’s defense also resulted in four 30-second time shot violations by ORU. The Grizzlies finished with a 34-31 rebound-by-committee effort, led by junior Jamar Akoh’s and Michael Oguine’s six apiece, followed by five apiece by Moorehead and Krslovic, four by Nicholas and two by sophomore Sayeed Pridgett.
The game stats look like it was Montana’s for the taking.
The Grizzlies won solidly and statistically in every category… with one exception: Perimeter shooting. The Grizzlies suffered through their worst long range shooting night of the young season, making only four of 22 shots from beyond the arc. Yet the open shots were there for the taking, and Moorehead said he’ll continue to take the shots that are part of Montana’s offensive schemes.
“I didn’t think about it,” said Moorehead with a slight shrug. I just kept letting them go.” My earlier shots were close … pretty much in and then out. So I knew there was nothing wrong with my shot.
“I just have to keep shooting.”
Despite another full night of outstanding leadership, Rorie was more critical of his effort.
“I missed some assignments on defense. I can’t do that being a leader on this team,” said Rorie.
“When you have a team down by 14 points, we have to put our foot on their necks. Both of the teams we play here are big. They move the ball well and are physical. We’ve just got to keep pushing being aggressive in the paint ang taking the game to them,” he said.
Montana junior guard Michael Oguine in Monday night’s win over Oral Roberts/ by Glenn Junkert, for Skyline Sports
Despite Rorie’s dissatisfaction, the Grizzlies show signs of steady improvement.
Montana’s scoring was a versatile, full-team affair. Rorie and Oguine penetrated the ORU defense repeatedly, whether against a man or zone defense. Rorie led the Griz with 18 points, followed by 14 from Oguine and 11 by an ever-confident Nicholas. Krslovic and Akoh just missed double digits with nine and eight points each.
DeCure expressed satisfaction with his team’s improvements in all areas of the game and as a cohesive team.
“I think we missed some opportunities in the first half with open shots, possessions where we missed open shots and turnovers,” Montana fourth-year head coach Travis DeCuire. “And so every time we had an opportunity to put this game away, we kind of shot ourselves in the foot a little bit.
“In the second half, we buckled down at the start. But once we got our lead, we started making the same mistakes. It’s kind of an issue for us right now to realize how to minimize those mistakes. But we’ve got a young group on the floor. At times and it’s just going to happen.
“Otherwise, I like where our defense is right now. We’re aggressive, we get rebounds we force turnovers, we get loose balls, so I do like where we’re headed right now.”
The Grizzlies will play UC Santa Barbara for the consolation bracket title Tuesday at 6 p.m. Mountain time.
